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How foreign language learning & teaching can be improved in Turkey?

According to the Education English Proficiency Index, Turkey’s score in 2022 was 495, which indicates a generally low level of English proficiency. According to another source, approximately 32% of Turkey’s population knows very basic English vocabulary, but the percentage of people who can truly understand and speak the language is estimated to be below 4%. Considering that in Turkey, English education has been provided from a very young age, almost since primary school, this percentage is very low. Even based on this information, we can understand that foreign language learning and teaching in our country needs to be improved.

The most effective way to learn a foreign language is to be exposed to it as much as possible, and I think this is what students in our country lack the most. Without consistent listening, speaking and reading opportunities, the language becomes just an academic subject instead of a living communication tool. When learners immerse themselves in the language beyond the classroom, they can improve their vocabulary, pronunciation, and overall confidence more effectively. 

This leads us to another problem related to this issue:Insufficient resources.While learning a foreign language, the lack of sufficient resources and the limited exposure provided by teachers, in my opinion, creates a major barrier to language development. Resources in the target language(such as videos, songs, movies, and podcasts) should be used more frequently. Students should also be encouraged and guided in this process. This shortage of resources not only affects students but also makes it difficult for teachers to design engaging and effective lessons. Without sufficient technological tools, audio-visual materials, and up to date learning content, the overall quality of language education remains low, limiting student’s ability to achieve fluency and confidence in a foreign language.

I believe another issue that needs to be changed and given more attention is the use of incorrect teaching methods in foreign language education. In many schools in our country, foreign language education remains ineffective due to outdated and incorrect teaching methods. Instead of focusing on real communication skills, lessons often rely heavily on grammar rules, translation exercises, and memorization, which prevents learners from using the language naturally. As a result, learners can answer written exam questions but have difficulty speaking, expressing themselves in real life, and understanding native speakers. There should be activities in the curriculum that allow students to use the language more, not only focus on books and exams. Textbooks should include a wider variety of activities that help students develop their language and communication skills, while schools can also organize engaging and motivating tasks and projects to encourage students to use the language actively. By adopting these changes, schools can create a more dynamic, engaging, and successful language learning environment.

In conclusion, improving language learning and teaching in Turkey requires a more modern, innovative, and resource rich approach. Schools should integrate technology more effectively, offer engaging and communicative classroom activities, and provide teachers with continuous training and updated materials. By prioritizing these steps, the overall quality of language education can be strengthened, enabling learners to develop stronger language skills and greater confidence in using a foreign language.